some powder pink fur & green ribbons

Over the weekend I had some fun making this collar. Its knitted in powder pink Jaegar fur which was on offer at my local yarn store. I bought it in other colours too - woodland green and light fawn. I couldn't resist.

Finished it with thrift shop lace and two vintage button box buttons - one wooden heart, one shiny mother of pearl. It also looks very cute on Baby J , but she wouldn't stand still to have her photo taken ;-)

And a while back I had knitted this lace effect collar in leftover creamy yarn. I finally finished it with a striking greenest green ribbon and some more thrifted lace. It is kind of inspired by the Elizabethian collars in the 16th century. Because I guess Elizabeth I is kind of my favourite historical character. " I may not be a lion but i have a lion's heart"...

Oh I am very pleased with it. x

Pomegranate & Birthday

Every autumn when I was little my Dad used to bring me a Pomegranate. I love to cut it in two and see the little red juicy seeds. Eating it is a ritual which I like...

It is my Dad's birthday today. I made him a chocolate mint cream cake.

Fashion & Fantasy

I have been reading a biography of fashion designer Bill Gibb. I picked the book up by chance in the library. Gosh its wonderful. Perhaps I was the only one, but I hadn't heard of Bill Gibb. I am so glad I stumbled on this book because it has been quite inspirational. He was influenced by medeavil history, pre-raphaelite paintings, gypsy culture, flowers... his dresses were art. He said he never saw anyone wear one of his designs but he didn't care. He was a true creative soul.
I want to copy some pictures to show you. (I can't find much online.) But here is the above pic for now...
I love to find new inspiration like this.

a hummingbird with a paper heart

If I were a word, I would be verb. A 'doing' word. I do not stop. I am never static. Like a hummingbird I must keep flapping my wings, must keep thinking, changing, making, doing, becoming...

I have been taking some time to gather ideas this week. To be inspired... by the blogs I read of course and also by some new books, both bought and borrowed, and by the slow turn of summer into my favourite season, autumn.

Last night I read Magical Hoofbeats . I imagine galloping towards woodland on the back of a white mare. Do you know I have never been on a horse? I have added it to my list of 101 things I must do soon, or at least, sooner or later.

I have read LOTS of books this week. Each will be mentioned in their turn.

And I have been playing with paper. So I have also finally started my little scrapbook project. I keep a paper journal you see. But lately I took a notion that I would like to 'depict' as well as write my life on to paper. So my new scrapbook journal is in words and pictures. Therefore it is less rambling and more satisfying... but oh, I see that I have started to ramble on this blog instead...

gathering apples, stitching flowers

Today we gathered the apples from our garden. The tree was heavy with them and leaning to one side. We will eat them crip and fresh,

stew them,

and bake them, to make little mini crumbles.

The Ophelia bag/purse is coming along nicely. I love this fabric, the grey-blue like water and the pretty wild flowers.

Tea & Toast

Just sitting down with a dainty cup of Lady Grey and the new Toast catalogue. I love the setting and styling and most of the clothes... I always swoon over Toast, but I can't really afford to shop there... I just steal ideas.

I have been sewing up some new brooches and making hair clips and knitting a lovely white camisole for myself from some bamboo yarn and using cotton yarn to design some pretty bags. I realised how little free time I have however, and I am kind of reminiscing when I was pregnant and I swirled about the house barefoot - baking cupcakes and playing with fabric and yarn.
But you know, one day there will be time again and as Baby J leaves the house to explore alone... and I will reminiscing about this time we have now where we have tea parties with toy food, hunt fairies and play dress up... sigh.

Its raining today so I am happy.

Lace and tiny footprints in the snow

I am loving lace. I am just home from my local charity shop with arms full of vintage lace. So strange what people will give away. I am delighted with it.



My Snow White bedside journal is finished

Its so dreamy... white vintage fabric and white lace sewn snug with a tiny handmade poison apple button in the centre and a silk ribbon to close.

I have also received a few custom orders this week so I am having fun designing for specific people... and meanwhile baby J has started walking!